Washington, DC – February 9, 2012 – The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce the launch of a beta website, http://www.eia.gov/beta, that encourages the public, researchers, analysts and others to test and comment on the agency’s latest product enhancements, and review other users’ comments. This approach allows EIA to “crowd test” innovations before they are introduced on the agency’s official website.

As a first offering, products on the beta site allow users to easily create graphics that show and compare energy data collected by the agency. Both the novice and expert can tailor EIA’s energy data to create graphics at the click of a mouse to show energy trends hidden in petroleum, natural gas and electricity data, such as:

· Comparing one state’s current gasoline prices with other states or the national average, and how those pump prices have changed from previous years.

· Tracking U.S. monthly natural gas production and compare the growth from prior years.

· Following changes in the amount of U.S. electricity generated by coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, and solar.

Watch a short video to see how the beta website works and what you can do there.

Projects published on beta are not final and may not include up-to-date data. They are for public comment and testing only.

EIA will use the feedback it receives to further improve its website to work better for customers.